Frame-type optical member with optical fiber and multi-panel display device with same

ABSTRACT

In a multi-panel display device in which plural individual display devices are joined, it is possible to guarantee image continuity in panel junction areas of the multi-panel display device by disposing a frame-type optical member, which includes a frame section having plural optical fibers and a central light-transmitting area, on the front surface of the multi-panel display device and optimizing structures of an inner inclined surface of the frame section of the frame-type optical member and optical fibers included in the frame section.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit under the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Republic of Korea Patent Application Number10-2015-0136750 filed on Sep. 25, 2015 and Republic of Korea PatentApplication Number 10-2016-0020352 filed on Feb. 22, 2016, which ishereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forthherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multi-panel displaydevice including plural individual display devices are adjoined to forma single large-scale image output device, and more particularly, to amulti-panel display device displaying continuous image junction areas ofindividual display devices.

Discussion of the Related Art

With progress of information society, there is more need for a displaydevice displaying images in various forms and various display devices.The display devices include liquid crystal display devices, plasmadisplay devices, and organic light emitting display devices.

There is a need for a large-size display device for the commercialpurposes. However, the size of a display panel constituting a displaydevice is currently restricted. Hence, a multi-panel display device inwhich plural individual display panels or display devices are joined todisplay a single large image has been used as a large-scale displaydevice. Such a multi-panel display device is referred to as a videowall.

Each of the individual display panel or display devices constitutingsuch a multi-panel display device includes a central active area inwhich an image is displayed and a non-active area which is disposedaround the active area and in which an image is not displayed. Thenon-active area has a frame shape with a constant width to surround anedge of the display panel. Such non-active area is referred to as abezel area. The non-active area or the bezel area is an indispensablepart that includes gate driving circuit, a data driving circuit, andvarious signals lines for driving the display panel.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to a multi-panel display device comprising aplurality of adjoining individual display devices and an optical memberon the plurality of individual display device. The optical memberincludes a frame section covering junction areas of the individualdisplay devices where images are not displayed and portions of displayareas of the individual display devices adjacent to the junction areas.The frame section comprises a plurality of light conduits of a firstrefractive index and cladding portions of a second refractive indexlower than the first refractive index. The cladding portions surroundthe plurality of light conduits.

In one embodiment, each of the light conduits comprises a first surfaceconfigured to receive light from the covered portions of the displayareas, and a second surface facing away from the individual displaydevice.

In one embodiment, a center of the second surface is shifted towards ajunction area relative to a center of the first surface. The junctionarea is adjacent to a portion of the frame section that includes each ofthe light conduits.

In one embodiment, a portion of the frame section is defined at least bya bottom surface facing a display area of an individual display device,an inner inclined surface extending from the bottom surface and facingaway from the individual display device, and an outer inclined surfaceextending from the bottom surface. The outer inclined surface extendsover a non-display area of the display device and facing a junction areabetween the individual display device and an adjacent individual displaydevice.

In one embodiment, a first acute angle between the inner inclinedsurface and the bottom surface is smaller than a second acute anglebetween the outer inclined surface and the bottom surface.

In one embodiment, the multi-panel display device further includes arefraction compensating member on a side of the inner inclined surface.Light received from the inclined surface is refracted by the refractioncompensation member in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of theindividual display devices.

In one embodiment, the refraction compensating member includes a firstsurface facing the inner inclined surface, and a second surface facingaway from the inner inclined surface. The first surface forms an acuteangle relative to the second surface.

In one embodiment, the multi-panel display device includes a viewingangle increasing plate between the refraction compensating member andthe inner inclined surface. The viewing angle increasing plate receivesfirst light with a first viewing angle from the light conduits formingthe inner inclined surface and transmits second light of a secondviewing angle larger than the first viewing angle from a second sidefacing away from the inner inclined surface.

In one embodiment, a first surface is equal to or smaller than a pixelor a sub-pixel of the individual display devices, and the second surfaceis larger than the first surface.

In one embodiment, second surfaces of first light conduits are largerthan second surfaces of second light conduits. The first light conduitsare closer to the edge relative to the second surfaces of second lightconduits located farther from the edge relative to the first lightconduits.

In one embodiment, the portion of the frame section is further definedby a top surface extending over at least a non-display area of theindividual display device and facing away from the individual displaydevice, the inner inclined surface and the outer inclined surfacebetween the top surface and the bottom surface.

In one embodiment, each of the light conduits and the cladding portionsare surrounded by supporting material having a third refractive indexlower than the first refractive index and the second refractive index.

In one embodiment, the optical member further comprises alight-transmitting layer between the frame section and another framesection.

In one embodiment, each of the light conduits has a cross section shapeof a convex polygon.

In one embodiment, the multi-panel display device further includes aviewing angle increasing plate on the frame section of the opticalmember at a side of the frame section opposite to the plurality ofadjoining individual display devices. The viewing angle increasing platereceives first light with a first viewing angle from the light conduitsat a first side facing the light conduits and transmits second light ofa second viewing angle larger than the first viewing angle from a secondside facing away from the light conduits.

In one embodiment, the viewing angle increasing plate includes a set oflight conduits of a third refractive index and support parts fixing theplurality of light conduits. The support parts have a fourth refractiveindex higher than the third refractive index.

In one embodiment, the set of light conduits includes optical fibers ofa same diameter.

In one embodiment, the diameter of each of the optical fibers is lessthan 50% or more than 200% of a diameter of each of the plurality oflight conduits.

In one embodiment, the first side and the second side of the viewingangle increasing plate are parallel.

In one embodiment, the viewing angle increasing plate has a thickness of0.1 mm to 3 mm.

Embodiments also relate to an optical member for a multi-panel displaydevice. The optical member includes a first frame section coveringjunction areas of first and second individual display devices whereimages are not displayed and portions of display areas of the first andsecond individual display devices adjacent to the junction areas. Thefirst frame section comprises a plurality of light conduits of a firstrefractive index and cladding portions of a second refractive indexlower than the first refractive index. The cladding portions surroundthe plurality of light conduits.

In one embodiment, the optical member further includes a second framesection connected to the first frame section. The second frame sectioncovers junction areas of the first individual display device and a thirdindividual display device adjacent to the first individual displaydevice.

In one embodiment, each of the light conduits comprises: a first surfaceconfigured to receive light from the covered display areas; and a secondsurface facing away from the individual display device.

In one embodiment, a center of the second surface is shifted towards ajunction area relative to a center of the first surface, the junctionarea adjacent to a portion of the frame section that includes each ofthe light conduits.

In one embodiment, a portion of the first frame section is defined atleast by (i) a bottom surface facing a display area of the firstindividual display device; (ii) an inner inclined surface extending fromthe bottom surface and facing away from the first individual displaydevice; and (iii) an outer inclined surface extending from the bottomsurface, the outer inclined surface extending over a non-display area ofthe first individual display device and facing a junction area betweenthe first individual display device and the second individual displaydevice.

In one embodiment, a first acute angle between the inner inclinedsurface and the bottom surface is smaller than a second acute anglebetween the outer inclined surface and the bottom surface.

In one embodiment, the optical member further includes a refractioncompensating member on the inner inclined surface, light received fromthe inclined surface refracted by the refraction compensation member ina direction perpendicular to surfaces of the individual display devices.

In one embodiment, the refraction compensating member includes a firstsurface facing the inner inclined surface, and a second surface facingaway from the inner inclined surface, the first surface forming an acuteangle relative to the second surface.

In one embodiment, the second surface forms another acute angle relativeto the surface of the individual display devices.

In one embodiment, the optical member further includes a viewing angleincreasing plate between the refraction compensating member and theinner inclined surface. The viewing angle increasing plate receivesfirst light with a first viewing angle from the light conduits formingthe inner inclined surface and transmits second light of a secondviewing angle larger than the first viewing angle from a second sidefacing away from the inner inclined surface.

In one embodiment, the portion of the first frame section is furtherdefined by a top surface extending over at least a non-display area ofthe first individual display device and facing away from the firstindividual display device, the inner inclined surface and the outerinclined surface between the top surface and the bottom surface.

In one embodiment, each of the light conduits and the cladding portionsare surrounded by supporting material having a third refractive indexlower than the first refractive index and the second refractive index.

In one embodiment, the optical member further includes a viewing angleincreasing plate on the frame section of the optical member at a side ofthe frame section opposite to the plurality of adjoining individualdisplay devices. The viewing angle increasing plate receives first lightwith a first viewing angle from the light conduits at a first sidefacing the light conduits and transmits second light of a second viewingangle larger than the first viewing angle from a second side facing awayfrom the light conduits.

In one embodiment, the viewing angle increasing plate includes a set oflight conduits of a third refractive index and support parts fixing theplurality of light conduits. The support parts have a fourth refractiveindex higher than the third refractive index.

In one embodiment, the set of light conduits comprise optical fibers ofa same diameter.

In one embodiment, the diameter of each of the optical fibers is lessthan 50% or more than 200% of a diameter of each of the plurality oflight conduits.

In one embodiment, the first side and the second side are parallel.

In one embodiment, the viewing angle increasing plate has a thickness of0.1 mm to 3 mm.

Embodiment also relate to a method of manufacturing a frame shapedoptical member for placing on a plurality of individual display devices.A plurality of optical fibers are bundled into a block. The block ofoptical fibers is heated. The block of heated optical fibers are pressedat both sides of the block to shape the block into a portion of theframe shaped optical member so that at least a subset of the opticalfibers in the portion have input surfaces of an area smaller thancorresponding output surfaces. The input surfaces receive lights fromactive areas of the display devices and the output surfaces transmit thereceived light. The optical member is cooled to solidify a shape of theoptical member.

Embodiments also relate to a frame-type optical member for a multi-paneldisplay device with a plurality of connected individual display devices.The frame-type optical member has a frame section including a bottomportion covering a portion of an active area of each of the individualdisplay devices, an inner inclined surface that extends upward from thebottom portion at a first angle with respect to surfaces of theindividual display device, a top portion that extends parallel to thebottom portion, a first optical fiber having an input end in the bottomportion and an output end in the inner inclined surface, and a secondoptical fiber having an input end in the bottom portion and an outputend in the top portion. The frame-type optical member also includes afirst viewing angle increasing plate on the top portion of the framesection. The first viewing angle includes a set of optical fibersconfigured to receive first light with a first viewing angle from theframe section and transmit second light of a second viewing angle largerthan the first viewing angle.

In one embodiment, a diameter of the input end of the first opticalfiber is identical to a diameter of the output end of the first opticalfiber, and a diameter of the input end of the second optical fiber issmaller than a diameter of the output end of the second optical fiber.

In one embodiment, a diameter of each of the set of optical fibers inthe first viewing angle increasing plate differs from the diameter ofthe input end of the first optical fiber.

In one embodiment, the diameter of each of the optical fibers in thefirst viewing angle increasing plate is less than 50% or more than 200%of the diameter of the input end of the first optical fiber.

In one embodiment, the first viewing angle increasing plate has athickness of 0.1 to 3 mm.

In one embodiment, the frame-type optical member includes a refractioncompensating member on the inner inclined surface of the frame sectionto refract light emitted from the first optical fiber of the framesection. Light received from the inclined surface is refracted by therefraction compensation member in a direction perpendicular to surfacesof the individual display devices.

In one embodiment, the frame-type optical member further includes asecond viewing angle increasing plate on the inner inclined surface ofthe frame section. The second viewing angle increasing plate includesanother set of optical fibers. The second viewing angle increasing platereceives third light with a third viewing angle from the frame sectionand transmit fourth light of a fourth viewing angle larger than thethird viewing angle.

In one embodiment, the frame-type optical member further includes arefraction compensating member on the second viewing angle increasingplate to refract light emitted from the other set of optical fibers ofthe second viewing angle increasing plate in a direction perpendicularto surfaces of the individual display devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a multi-panel display device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention and an enlargedcross-sectional view of a panel junction area of the multi-panel displaydevice.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating image discontinuity occurring injunction areas of individual display devices of a multi-panel displaydevice according to the related art.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating image discontinuity occurring in therefractive optical member of FIG. 2 when a viewing angle is equal to orgreater than a predetermined angle.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a multi-panel display device includinga frame-type optical member, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-panel displaydevice including a frame-type optical member, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged perspective views of the frame-type opticalmember according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a frame section of theframe-type optical member according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged cross-sectional views of a frame section ofthe frame-type optical member according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating difference inviewing depending on of the magnitude of a first angle (θ1) of the innerinclined surface of the frame-type optical member, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sizes and arrangementof input ends and output ends of optical fibers according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sizes and arrangementof input ends and output ends of optical fibers according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views illustrating examples of asectional shape of the frame section of the frame-type optical member.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are diagrams illustrating examples of asectional shape of an optical fiber which can be used in the frame-typeoptical member according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating examples of a sectionalshape of an optical fiber which can be used in the frame-type opticalmember according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of a multi-panel displaydevice including a frame-type optical member according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing aframe-type optical member, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a portion of the frame-type opticalmember manufactured by the method of claim 13A, according to oneembodiment.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are cross-sectional views of a multi-panel displaydevice including a frame-type optical member including a viewing angleincreasing plate on top, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating the light transmission properties ofa first optical fiber in FIG. 16 having a constant diameter, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating the light transmission properties ofa second optical fiber in FIG. 16 having a gradually increasingdiameter, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating an increased viewing angleeffect of the viewing angle increasing plate of FIG. 16, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a frame-type optical member with arefraction compensating member disposed on the inner inclined surface ofa frame section, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating a light-refractioncompensation effect of the refraction compensating member, according toone embodiment.

FIGS. 21A through 21C are sectional diagrams illustrating various shapesof the refraction compensating member according to the embodiment ofFIG. 19.

FIGS. 22A through 22C illustrates a frame-type optical member with twoviewing angle increasing plates and a refraction compensating member,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 23 illustrates a frame-type optical member with a frame section isonly constituted by the inner inclined surface without a top portion,and a second viewing angle increasing plate and a refractioncompensating member are disposed on the inner inclined surface,according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be describedin details with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describingthe invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, like elementsare referenced by like reference numerals or signs regardless of thedrawing numbers. When it is determined that detailed description ofknown techniques involved in the invention makes the gist of theinvention obscure, the detailed description thereof will not be made.

Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) can be used to describeelements of the invention. These terms are merely used to distinguishone element from another element and the essence, order, sequence,number, or the like of the elements is not limited to the terms. If itis mentioned that an element is “coupled” or “connected” to anotherelement, it should be understood that the element is directly coupled orconnected to another element or still another element is “interposed”therebetween or the elements may be “coupled” or “connected” to eachother with still another element interposed therebetween.

FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-panel display device according to anembodiment and illustrates a plan view of the multi-panel display deviceand an enlarged cross-sectional view of a panel junction area of themulti-panel display device. Referring to FIG. 1, a general multi-paneldisplay device 100 is formed by adjoining plural individual displaydevices 200. The multi-panel display device 100 includes junction areas300 where the individual display devices 200 are adjoined.

Each individual display device 200 independently serves as a separateand fully functional display device and can be embodied, for example, asa liquid crystal display device (LCD), an organic light-emitting displaydevice (OLED), or the like.

An individual display device described herein refers to a single displaydevice constituting a multi-panel display device and may also bereferred to herein as an individual panel or a panel.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, each individual display device 200 includes anactive area (A/A) 212 which refers to the center of a panel and in whichan image is displayed, and a non-active area (N/A) 210 which refers tothe edge of the panel surrounding the active area and in which an imageis not displayed. The non-active area 210 of the individual displaydevice 200 is also referred to as a bezel area.

On the other hand, each individual display device 200 may include adisplay panel 222, a backlight unit 224 that is disposed below thedisplay panel to supply light to the display panel, and a supportstructure 226 that surrounds the entire display device.

The display panel 222 is manufactured by bonding a first substrate whichis an array substrate. Thin film transistors and the like are formed inthe first substrate. A pixel area is defined in a second substrate whichis an upper substrate formed with a black matrix and/or a color filterlayer and the like. In case of a panel based on an OLED display device,the second substrate may serve as only a protective substrate.

The backlight units 224 may include subunits such as a light sourcemodule including a light source such as an LED, a holder fixing thelight source, and a light source driving circuit, a light guide plate(LGP) or a diffusion plate that diffuses light to the entire panel area,a reflective plate that reflects light to the display panel, an LEDflexible circuit which is a circuit for controlling ON/OFF of the lightsource and the like, and one or more optical films or sheets that aredisposed on the light guide plate for improvement in luminance,diffusion of light, protection, and the like.

An outer support member 226 covering the display device may be a coverbottom and/or a guide panel surrounding and protecting the backlightunit 224 and the display panel 222 as a unit of each display device, aback cover as a unit of a set electronic device which is a finalelectronic product including display devices, or the like.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each individual displaydevice 200 includes a non-active area (N/A) 210 at its predeterminededge area where images are not displayed. Since the multi-panel displaydevice is formed by joining plural individual display devices 200, animage is not displayed in junction areas 300 in which the individualdisplay devices are joined in the multiple display panels.

On the other hand, the non-active area (N/A) 210 of each individualdisplay device 200 can be formed by a non-active area of the displaypanel 222 itself, an area covered by the backlight unit 224 or the like,a case top or a front cover covering the entire surface of the displaydevice, and the like.

Therefore, when a signal image is displayed on the multi-panel displaydevice or the video wall illustrated in FIG. 1, image discontinuity inwhich an image is not displayed occurs in the junction areas 300.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a refractive optical member thatenlarges and displays the junction areas of the multi-panel displaydevice and an image in the front viewing field when the refractiveoptical member is used. As illustrated in FIG. 2, one way of solving thephenomenon of image discontinuity in the junction areas of themulti-panel display device is to use a technique where a refractiveoptical member is disposed on the multi-panel display device so as torefract or enlarge an optical path in the vicinity of the junctionareas.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration in which a lens plate disposed on themulti-panel display device is used as such a refractive optical member.The lens plate 240 which is the refractive optical member illustrated inFIG. 2 is a type of light-transmitting screen and includes a base plate242 which is a general light-transmitting panel material having apredetermined thickness and a lens unit formed in the vicinity of thejunction area 300 of the multi-panel display device.

The lens unit 244 formed in the lens plate 240 is used to refract anoptical path in the vicinity of the junction area 300 and a Fresnel lensor the like can be used, but the lens unit is not limited to the Fresnellens.

When a user is placed in front of the junction area 300 as illustratedin FIG. 2, light from pixels P1 to P4 in the neighboring active area isrefracted and is incident on the user's viewing field by the lens unit244 of the lens plate 240 formed on the junction areas of themulti-panel display device. When a user watches the multi-panel displaydevice from the front side, images of neighboring pixels are refractedand projected to the junction areas 300 to display a predetermined imageas illustrated in the lower part of FIG. 2. Accordingly, the imagediscontinuity in the panel junction area is compensated for to a certainextent.

In these attempts using Fresnel lens plate, to solve image discontinuityin the panel junction area is advantageously prevented when viewed fromthe front. However, when a user's viewing angle departs from the frontside (with a viewing angle of 0 degrees) and is equal to or greater thanabout 45 degrees (α), the optical path illustrated in FIG. 2 is notformed and the panel junction area 300 is exposed. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 3, when the viewing angle is α (α>about 45 degrees),some light from the pixels in the vicinity of the junction area is notincident on a user obliquely watching the multi-panel display device andthus bezels of the individual display devices are exposed. Therefore,the phenomenon of image discontinuity in the panel junction area occursas illustrated in the lower part of FIG. 3.

Embodiments of the present invention are proposed to compensate for thephenomenon of image discontinuity occurring in the junction areas of themulti-panel display device even at a viewing angle equal to or greaterthan a predetermined angle.

In the embodiments of the present invention, in order to provide aseamless image in the junction areas of the individual display devicesat a front viewing angle and a high viewing angle in a multi-paneldisplay device in which plural individual display devices are joined, aframe-type optical member including plural optical fibers and resinsupports supporting the optical fibers is disposed on the multi-paneldisplay device to output an image to the non-active area via output endsof the optical fibers.

Particularly, the frame-type optical member includes an inner inclinedsurface on which the output ends of the optical fibers are arranged andan outer inclined surface that covers the non-active area (bezel area)of the individual display device and can provide a continuous image inthe junction area of the individual display devices constituting themulti-panel display device by using a frame-type optical memberincluding optical fibers to output an image to the non-active area viaoutput ends of the optical fibers.

Hereinafter, detailed configurations of a frame-type optical memberaccording to the embodiments of the present invention and themulti-panel display device having the frame-type optical member will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4A through FIG. 11B.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a multi-panel display device includinga frame-type optical member 500, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of amulti-panel display device including a frame-type optical member 500,according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a multi-panel display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may include adisplay panel section 400 that is formed by joining plural individualdisplay devices and includes junction areas in which non-active areas ofthe individual display devices are joined, and a frame-type opticalmember 500 that includes light conduits (e.g., plural optical fibers510) and a resin support 520 which is disposed between the opticalfibers and supports and bind the optical fibers.

The frame-type optical member 500 includes light-transmitting centralareas 580 and a frame section 590 surrounding the central areas. Theframe section 590 covers the non-active areas or bezel areas of theindividual display devices 410 and a part of edges of the active areasof the individual display devices.

That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the frame-type opticalmember 500 according to this embodiment has frames that cover the entiretop areas of the junction areas 300 of the multi-panel display devicedisposed in a lattice shape and has openings corresponding to thecentral areas of the individual display device.

The frame section 590 of the frame-type optical member 500 includes aplurality of optical fibers 510 and resin support 520 that are disposedbetween the optical fibers 510. The optical fibers 510 receive lightfrom pixels disposed at the edge of the active area of an individualdisplay device and output the received light at the top of theframe-type optical member. The resin support 520 binds and supports theoptical fibers 510.

The frame section 590 of the frame-type optical member 500 includes abottom portion 560 covering a part of an edge of an active area of anindividual display device and an inner inclined surface 530 extendingfrom the bottom portion at a first angle θ1 with respect to the displaypanel section.

In addition to the bottom portion 560 and the inner inclined surface530, the frame section 590 of the frame-type optical member 500 furtherincludes an outer inclined surface 540 that is disposed on thenon-active area of the individual display device and has a second angle(θ2) with the display panel section, and top portion 550 that extends ina direction parallel to the bottom portion 560 between the innerinclined surface 530 and the outer inclined surface 540.

Accordingly, as illustrated in 4B, a cross-section of the frame section590 of the frame-type optical member 500 according to this embodimenthas a twisted quadrangular shape.

However, the cross-section of the frame section 590 of the frame-typeoptical member is not limited to the twisted quadrangular, and may be aright triangular shape that is formed by an inner inclined surface 530′and a bottom portion 560′ or be a triangular shape that is formed by theinner surface 530′, the bottom portion 560′, and an outer inclinedsurface 540′ without a top portion, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

Further, plural optical fibers 510 are disposed in the frame section 590of the frame-type optical member according to this embodiment. Eachoptical fiber has an input end opened to the bottom portion 560 of theframe section and an output end opened to the inner inclined surface 530of the frame section.

The input end of the optical fiber 510 faces a pixel or a sub-pixelarranged in an edge of the active area 412 of the individual displaydevice 410. The input end may have a size equal to or smaller than thesize of the corresponding pixel or sub-pixel.

Each optical fiber 510 receives light from the corresponding pixel andtransmits the light to the top portion of the inner inclined surface 530of the frame-type optical member by total internal reflection.

As described herein, the bottom part or the bottom portion of theframe-type optical device is a surface facing the display panel section400, and the top part or the inner inclined surface of the frame-typeoptical device is an image display surface in which images are outputvia the optical fibers.

The display panel section 400 of the multi-panel display deviceaccording to the embodiments of the present invention corresponds to adisplay unit of a multi-panel display device that displays an image byjoining individual display devices 410. In boundary areas where theindividual display devices are joined, bezel areas or non-active areas(NA) 414 of the individual display device are joined to form areas inwhich images are not displayed. As described herein, boundary areaswhere the individual display devices join are referred to as junctionareas 300.

Therefore, the junction areas 300 of the multi-panel display device arenon-active areas that are formed in the shape of the lattice in theentire multi-panel display device, and the width of each junction area300 is double the width of the non-active area 414 of each individualdisplay device 410.

In these junction areas 300, image discontinuity occurs. As will bedescribed below, in order to solve the problem, this embodiment isconceived to output images transmitted from the pixels of an active areato the top area of an optical member via some of optical fibers includedin a frame-type optical member. The top area includes areas whichcorrespond to the junction areas. A detailed configuration of thisoptical fiber and a solution principle of the image discontinuityphenomenon will be described in detail as follows.

An individual display device 410 which can be used with the presentinvention may be a liquid crystal display device, but is not limitedthereto, and include all forms of display device such as a plasmadisplay device (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) displaydevice, and the like.

Further, the individual display device 410 that is applied in theembodiment of the present invention may include a display panel in whichpixels are formed, and a panel support structure such as a cover bottom,the panel support structure supporting the display panel. The individualdisplay device 410 may be a module that is comprised of only a simpledisplay panel and a driving circuit for driving the display panel, andthe support structure such as a case may be formed with the entiremulti-panel display device as a unit.

That is, the individual display device as described herein serves as acomplete and independent display device, and may include a display panelthat includes an array substrate, a upper substrate, and a displaymaterial layer (liquid crystal material, organic light emitting materialor the like) which is disposed between the array substrate and the uppersubstrate, a driving circuit unit for driving the display panel, and thelike, but may not include the support structure such as a bottom cover.

When the individual display device 410 is a liquid crystal displaydevice, the display panel is a liquid crystal panel, and may furtherinclude a backlight unit that is arranged in the lower part of theliquid crystal panel and supplies light to the liquid crystal panel.

On the other hand, when the individual display device 410 is also aliquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display panel mayinclude an array substrate that includes multiple gate lines, multipledata lines, multiple pixels defined by areas in which the gate lines andthe data lines are crossed, and a thin film transistor TFT that servesas a switching device for controlling light transmittance in each pixel,a upper substrate that includes a color filter and/or black matrix andthe like, and a liquid crystal material layer that is formed between thearray substrate and the upper substrate. A touch window may be furtherarranged on the entire top surface of the display panel.

When the individual display device applied with the embodiments of thepresent invention is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) displaydevice, the display panel may be comprised of an array substrate and aupper protective substrate, the array substrate including gate lines,data lines, pixels defined by areas in which the gate lines and the datalines are crossed, and a thin film transistor TFT which serves aswitching device for selectively applying electric signals to an organicfield emission material layer.

Further, the frame-type optical member 500 includes the resin support520 that is arranged between plural optical fibers to support and bindthe optical fibers, wherein the resin support 520 may be made ofthermosetting resins or UV curing resins.

Accordingly, the frame-type optical member 500 according to thisembodiment can be formed by arranging optical fibers 510 having a shape,filling spaces between the optical fibers with a resin material, andthen curing the resin material by using heat or ultraviolet (UV).

This resin support 520 may be formed by using a light-transmitting resinmaterial, but is not limited thereto. Further, the refractive index ofthe resin material of the resin support 520 may be smaller thanrefractive indexes of optical fiber materials of the optical fibers 510.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged perspective views of the frame-type opticalmember according to the embodiments of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the frame-type optical member according tothe embodiments of the present invention may be formed by joiningmultiple frame sections 590 which cover the junction areas of themulti-panel display device as a single lattice configuration, but is notlimited thereto. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, each frame section590 may be independently formed and then arranged on the correspondingarea of the multi-panel display device.

In both the case of FIG. 5A and the case of FIG. 5B, when the frame-typeoptical member is disposed on the multi-panel display device, theframe-type optical member includes a central area 580 that transmitsimages of the center of the active area of the individual display deviceas is, and frame sections 590 that are arranged to surround the centralarea 580 and transfer image of pixels of the edge of the active area tothe junction area via internal optical fibers.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a frame section of theframe-type optical member according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, multiple optical fibers 510 arearranged in a frame section of a frame-type optical member and inputends of the optical fibers, the input ends being opened to a bottomportion 560 of the frame section, are arranged just on pixels P7 to P0in the edge of the active area 412 of the individual display device 410to receive light from the corresponding pixels.

For example, eight optical fibers F7 to F0 are arranged to correspond topixels P7 to P0 from most inner side of the frame section respectively,and input end of each optical fiber is arranged just on a correspondingpixel.

An output end of the each optical fiber F7 to F0 is arranged in an innerinclined surface 530 of the frame section of the frame-type opticalmember to output lights of the corresponding pixels, which are receivedvia the input ends and totally reflected in the optical fiber, tooutside. As a result, images are focused on the inner inclined surface530 of the frame-type optical member.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6, since some of the output ends of theoptical fiber 510 are arranged on at least one of the non-active areasof the individual display device and the junction area of themulti-panel display device, image of the pixels of the active area isoutputted on the junction area of the multi-panel display device, suchthat image discontinuity in the junction area of the multi-panel displaydevice does not occur.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged cross-sectional views of a frame section ofthe frame-type optical member according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, where a relationship between an outer incline surface 540 andan inner inclined surface 530 is illustrated.

In a frame section of a frame-type optical member according to theembodiments of FIGS. 7A and 7B, an outer inclined surface 540 arrangedon a non-active area 414 of the individual display device is provided inaddition to an inner inclined surface 530 in which output ends ofoptical fibers are arranged. Further, the frame section having arectangular sectional shape may further include a top portion 550 at anopposite side of the bottom portion.

In order to reduce weight of the frame-type optical member, space underthe outer inclined surface 540 may be empty. A first angle θ1 formed bythe inner inclined surface 530 and the display panel section is smallerthan a second angle θ2 formed by the outer inclined surface 540 and thedisplay panel section 400.

Therefore, like FIG. 7A, the width Wds of the bottom portion of theframe section of the frame-type optical member becomes larger than thewidth Wna of the non-active area of the individual display device, thewidth Wna being the length of a projection of the outer inclinedsurface.

Further, the first angle θ1 which is an acute angle formed by innerinclined surface 530 and the display panel section may be in the rangesfrom 10 degrees to 20 degrees.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating the effect of themagnitude of a first angle (θ1) of the inner inclined surface of theframe-type optical member. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the firstangle θ1 of the frame-type optical member increases, the size of theoutput ends of the optical fiber increases depending on the first angle.That is, referring to the third optical fiber F3 of FIG. 8A as anexample, when the first angle is θ1 (θ1>0), the size WO3 of the outputend of the optical fiber F3 is 1/cos θ1 times larger than that of a casethat the first angle is 0 degree when the output end of the opticalfiber F3 is parallel to the bottom portion.

As a result, when the first angle θ1 is 60 degrees, the size of theoutput end of the optical fiber is doubled relative to the case when thefirst angle θ1 is 0 degree.

On the other hand, since a ratio of the size WOi of the output endrelative to the size WIi of the input end corresponds to a magnificationratio of image magnified by the corresponding optical fiber, asdescribed above, when the first angle θ1 increases, the magnificationpower of an image outputted to the inner inclined surface alsoincreases.

Referring to FIG. 8A as an example, an image of the pixel P4 that isarranged to correspond to the most edge of the central area is output asis without magnification via the central area of the frame-type opticalmember, but an image of the pixel P3 that is just adjacent to the pixelP4 is magnified by 1/cos θ1 and then focused on the inner inclinedsurface.

Since an image is rapidly increased in terms of size in the innerinclined surface of the frame-type optical member when the first angleθ1 of the inner inclined surface 530 increases, it is impossible todisplay a continuous image.

Moreover, when the first angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface 530increases, the inner inclined surface is not acknowledged by an observer910 from front viewing field, but the inner inclined surface may itselfbe acknowledged as a new image discontinuity line by an observer 920from side viewing field.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the first angle θ1 ofthe inner inclined surface 530 decreases, as described above, images aremagnified in the inner inclined surface, and thus seamless image can bedisplayed to all of the observer 910 from front viewing angle and theobserver 920 from side viewing angle. For this reason, the angle of theinner inclined surface 530 included in the frame section of theframe-type optical member may be 20 degrees or less.

On the other hand, when the first angle θ1 of the inner inclined surfacedecreases, above-mentioned problem can be solved. However, the framesection has a predetermined thickness d, so that the width Wds of thebottom portion which extends toward inside of the active area is greatlywidened.

When the first angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface decreases and thusthe width Wds of the bottom portion 560 of the frame section is widened,the size of the entire frame-type optical member increases as a wholeand the number of the optical fibers to be included therein increases.

According to this embodiment, when the first angle of the inner inclinedsurface of the frame section constituting the frame-type optical memberis set to be smaller than the second angle of the outer inclined surfaceand the first angle of the inner inclined surface ranges from about 10degrees to about 20 degrees, it is possible to display natural images inthe junction area of the multi-panel display device while properlymaintaining the size of the optical member.

According to actual test results, when the width Wna of the non-activearea of the individual display device is about 4 mm, the width Wds ofthe bottom portion of the frame section may range from about 40 to about50 mm.

On the other hand, all the sizes WIi of the input ends of the opticalfibers 510 arranged in the frame section of the frame-type opticalmember may have a size corresponding to the pixels of the individualdisplay device and be equal to each other, but the sizes WOi of theoutput ends of the optical fibers 510 are equal to or larger than thesizes of the input ends, which will be described with reference to FIGS.9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sizes and arrangementof input ends and output ends of optical fibers according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment illustratedin FIG. 9, input ends of the optical fibers F0 to F5 arranged in theframe section of the frame-type optical member correspond to the pixelsarranged in the active area of the individual display device and thesizes of the input ends WI0 to WI5 of the optical fibers F0 to F5 areequal to each other, but the sizes of the output ends of the opticalfibers F0 to F5 is larger than the size WIi of the input ends andgradually increase toward the edge of the individual display device.

That is, though the sizes WI0 to WI5 of the input ends of the opticalfibers F0 to F5 of FIG. 9 are equal to each other, the WO5 of the outputend of the optical fiber F5 at the innermost part of the frame sectionhas the smallest size. The size of the output ends gradually increasetoward the edge.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment of FIG. 9, the sizerelationship of the input ends and the output ends of the optical fibersarranged in the frame section of the frame-type optical member 500 canbe represented as a mathematical expression 1 as following:WI<WO4<WO3<WO2<WO1<WO0  [Mathematical Expression 1]

In the first embodiment of FIG. 9, images of pixels of the edge area ofthe active area of the individual display device are gradually increasedtowards the edge in the frame section of the frame-type optical member500. The increase rate of sizes of the output ends of the optical fibers510 can be determined based on the size of the non-active area of theindividual display device, the thickness of the frame-type opticalmember and the like. However, the size of the largest output end (thatis, the size of the optical fiber arranged in the most outside of theindividual display device) may be smaller than triple the size of theinput end.

According to the first embodiment of FIG. 9, image magnification powerof the junction area of the multi-panel display device continuouslyincreases, so that a continuous seamless image can be displayed.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sizes and arrangementof input ends and output ends of the optical fibers according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment illustratedin FIG. 10 is similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 9 in that thesizes WI0′ to WI7′ of the input ends of the optical fibers are equal toeach other, but is different from the first embodiment in that the sizesWOi of the output ends of the optical fibers are larger than or equal tothe size WIi of the input ends and all the sizes of the optical fibersare equal to each other.

That is, referring to FIG. 10, the sizes WI0 to WI7 of the input ends ofthe optical fibers F0 to F7 have the same value, and the sizes WO0 toWO7 of the output ends of the optical fibers F0 to F7 are equal to eachother. Here, the size WOi of the output ends of all the optical fibersare equal to or larger than the sizes WIi of the input ends.

Accordingly, in the second embodiment of FIG. 10, the size relationshipof the input ends and the output ends of the optical fiber 510 arrangedin the frame-section of the frame-type optical member 500 can berepresented as a mathematical expression 2 as following:WI<WO4=WO3=WO2=WO1=WO0  [Mathematical Expression 2]

In the second embodiment described above, magnification ratios of imagesare equal to each other in the inner inclined surface or the top portionof the frame-type optical member 500. Accordingly, compared to the firstembodiment in which magnification powers gradually increase depending onthe image type, more natural seamless image can be provided.

Like the second embodiment, when images are supplied over the non-activearea by the same magnification ratio, images are not distorted becausemagnification ratios gradually increase toward the edge of individualdisplay device.

Particularly, when the sizes WOi of the output ends of all the opticalfibers are equal to the size WIi of the input end, even though resinsupport areas that are spaces between the output ends WOi of the opticalfibers increase toward the edge, an image distortion due to an imagemagnification by the optical fiber can be minimized in that an image ofa pixel is transferred as it is.

That is, according to the second embodiment, though image of the pixelarranged in the edge of the individual display device is transferred toa broader area as is without magnification and thus resolution may bedecreased, when an individual display device has an enough resolution,with minimizing the image distortion due to magnification, seamlessimages can be provided.

Further, in embodiments of the present invention, regardless of the sizerelationship of the input ends and the output ends of the optical fibers510 arranged in the frame section of the frame-type display device, atransfer line 516 (FIG. 9) between the input end and the output end isbent at an angle and makes an angle α of inclination from the directionA of the normal line of the display panel.

Here, the optical fibers 510 are arranged so that the optical fiberscloser to the edge of the frame-type optical member have greater angle αof inclination formed by the transfer line of the optical fiber and thedirection A of the normal line of the display panel.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the optical fibers 510 arranged inthe frame section 590 of the frame-type optical member 500 shift lightsfrom the pixels of the individual display device toward the outside andthen output the lights, and some of the output ends of the optical fiber510 are arranged on the junction areas 300 of the multi-panel displaydevice or the non-active area 414 of the individual display device. As aresult, images can be outputted in the junction area of the multi-paneldisplay device.

However, the sizes WIi of the input ends and the sizes WOi of the outputends of the optical fibers according to the embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to the first to the third embodimentsdescribed above. For example, when all sizes of the output ends of theoptical fibers are equal to each other and the size of the input end issmaller than the size of the output end, the input end may have asmaller size toward the edge or have a random size.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views illustrating examples of asectional shape of the frame section of the frame-type optical member.As described above, in the frame section 590 of the frame-type opticalmember of the embodiments of FIGS. 4A through 10, the frame section hasa quadrangular shape including all of the inner inclined surface 530,the outer inclined surface 540, the top portion 550, and the bottomportion 560.

However, the frame section is not limited thereto. The frame section mayhas a right triangular shape as illustrated in 11B, and may has atriangular shape that is composed of the inner inclined surface 530′,the bottom portion 560′, and the outer inclined surface 540′ without thetop portion as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

When the frame section of the frame-type optical member has a triangularcross-section that is composed of the inner inclined surface 530′, thebottom portion 560′, and the outer inclined surface 540′ without the topportion as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the size variation of the outputends of the optical fiber arranged in the inner inclined surface has aconstant value, and thus image magnification power can be controlled tobe a constant value.

Further, when the frame section of the frame-type optical member has aright triangular cross-section that is composed of only the innerinclined surface 530′ and the bottom portion 560′, the frame section hasthe merit of simple structure and constant image magnification power. Inaddition, since the resin support 520′ is filled under the outerinclined surface, stability of the optical member can be improved.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 10, when the framesection of the frame-type optical member has a quadrangularcross-section that is composed of the inner inclined surface 530, theouter inclined surface 540, the top portion 550, and the bottom portion560, the output ends of the optical fibers can be arranged in the innerinclined surface 530 and the top portion 550, and thus overall thicknessof the frame-type optical member can be reduced, compared to theembodiment of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are diagrams illustrating examples of asectional shape of an optical fiber which can be used in the frame-typeoptical member according to the present invention, and FIGS. 13A and 13Bare diagrams illustrating examples of a sectional shape of an opticalfiber which can be used in the frame-type optical member according tothe present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C, in optical fiber 510 that areused in the frame-type optical members used in these embodiments, eachoptical fiber may include one or more core portions 517 and a claddingportion 518 surrounding the core portions.

Here, a refractive index A of the core portion 517 of the optical fiber510 is larger than the a refractive index B of the cladding portion 518,and the refractive index B of the cladding portion 518 is larger than arefractive index C of the resin support 520.

Based on such refractive index relationship, lights that are inputtedthrough input ends of the optical fiber 510 are totally reflected by theinner surface of the cladding portion 518, and thus propagate throughonly the core portion 517.

Further, even though some input lights transmit the inner surface of thecladding portion 518 due to incidence angles in which lights areincident on the input end of the optical fiber, total reflection oflight occurs by the resin support 520 having a smaller refractive indexthan that of the cladding portion and thus remain inside the claddingportion 518. As a result, light leakage to the outside of the opticalfiber can be reduced.

As material that can be used for the optical fiber 510 and the resinsupport 520 of the frame-type optical member according to theembodiments of the present invention, a light-transmitting material suchas poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), poly carbonate (PC), poly ethersulfone (PES), methacrylate styrene (MS), polypropylene (PP),polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acryl, silica, glass is used.Accordingly, suitable materials can be selectively used depending on therefractive index relationship described above.

For example, the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material has lighttransmittance of about 90% and the refractive index of about 1.49 to1.50, and the poly carbonate (PC) has light transmittance of about 86%to 89% and the refractive index of about 1.57 and more.

Further, the poly ether sulfone (PES) has light transmittance of about73% and the refractive index of about 1.65, and the methacrylate styrene(MS) has light transmittance of about 90% and the refractive index ofabout 1.5677. The glass has also the refractive index of about 1.89 andmore.

Accordingly, for example, when the poly ether sulfone (PES) or the glassis used as material for the core portion 517 of the optical fiber 510,the poly carbonate (PC) or the methacrylate styrene (MS) is used asmaterial for the cladding portion 518 of the optical fiber, and thepolymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or the like is used as material for theresin support 520, it is possible to guarantee optical characteristicsof the frame-type optical member 500, which is required in the presentinvention.

However, materials for the optical fibers are not limited to thecombination of materials described above. Accordingly, once acombination of materials meets the condition that the refractive index Aof the core portion 517 of the optical fiber 510 is larger than therefractive index B of the cladding portion 518 and the refractive indexB of the cladding portion 518 is larger than the refractive index C ofthe resin support 520, all materials having light transmittance of apredetermined degree and more can be used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the optical fiber 510 may includesingle core portion arranged in the center area, but are not limitedthereto and may be a multi-core optical fiber including a bundle of coreportions therein.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the optical fiber that can be usedin the frame-type optical member according to the embodiments of thepresent invention may be the multi-core optical fiber in which a bundleof core portions 517′ are arranged in a cladding portion 518′.Accordingly, when the multi-core optical fiber is used, it is possibleto increase a degree of integration per unit area of a lighttransmission path.

As illustrated in FIG. 12C, the cladding portion 518′ of the opticalfiber may include plural black beads 519 therein.

The black beads 519 absorbs noise lights that do not propagate throughthe core portion of the optical fiber and secede from the core portionof the optical fiber to the cladding portion or the matrix, and thusserves to decrease color mixture between neighboring optical fibers.

The black beads 519 may have a refractive index different from therefractive index of the cladding portion material.

The black beads are also made of at least one of the PMMA, the Silica,and the PC that have a color of black. The black beads may have aspherical shape, a quadrangular pyramid shape, and the like, but mayhave an amorphous shape that is not a certain shape.

In some cases, the black beads 519 may include at least two or morebeads having refractive indexes and/or sizes different from each otherso as to improve optical diffusion properties and optical absorptionproperties. For example, a first black bead having a diameter in therange of 1 μm to 10 μm and a first refractive index and a second blackbead having a diameter in the range of 20 μm to 80 μm and a secondrefractive index smaller than the first refractive index by 0.02 to 0.2may be used. Herein, required optical absorption properties can beobtained by regulating distribution density per unit volume.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating examples of a sectionalshape of an optical fiber which can be used in the frame-type opticalmember according to the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C, the optical fibers used inthe frame-type optical member according to the embodiments of thepresent invention may be a circular optical fiber having circularcross-section.

Since optical transmission efficiency of an optical fiber relates to theFill Factor that is an area ratio of an area which the optical fiberoccupies and a circular optical fiber having a circular cross sectionshows excellent optical transmission efficiency, it is desirable to usethe circular optical fiber in the embodiments.

However, the embodiments are not limited to the circular optical fiber,and may use a polygonal optical fiber having a quadrangular crosssection or a polygonal cross section as illustrated in FIG. 13A or 13B.

Particularly, the optical fibers used in the present invention aredesirable to be arranged to correspond to the pixels of the individualdisplay device that is provided below the optical fibers. Since theschematic shape of the pixel is a quadrangle, it is possible to improvea degree of matching of the input ends of the optical fibers for thecorresponding pixels by using the polygonal type optical fibersillustrated in FIG. 13A or 13B.

Further, when the polygonal type optical fibers illustrated in FIGS. 13Aand 13B are used, proximity between neighboring optical fibers isincreased and space between the optical fibers is decreased. As aresult, it is possible to improve the area ratio of optical fiberoccupying areas to the entire area of the frame-type optical member.

That is, when the polygonal-type optical fibers illustrated in FIG. 13Aor 13B are used, the optical fibers can be arranged to have little spacebetween the optical fibers, and thus an area for the resin support whichdoes not transfer lights can be reduced. As a result, it is possible toimprove an optical transmission efficiency of the entire frame-typeoptical member.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of a multi-panel displaydevice including a frame-type optical member according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

In the preceding embodiments, the central area 580 arranged in the framesection of the frame-type optical member 500 is an opening.

However, the frame-type optical member of FIG. 14 includes a framesection 1590 in which one and more optical fibers are arranged and whichhas an inner inclined surface, and a light-transmitting layer 1600 whichis arranged in a central area 1580 in the frame section.

That is, while the frame section 1590 of the frame-type optical member1500 is equal to that of the preceding embodiments, the central area1580 of the frame-type optical member is not kept open and is filledwith the light-transmitting layer 1600 in which a particularlight-transmitting film or a light-transmitting filling material aredisposed.

In FIG. 14A, a light-transmitting layer is formed by disposing alight-transmitting film on both of the top of the frame section 1590 ofthe frame-type optical member and the central area 1580.

Further, in FIG. 14B, the central area 1580 of the frame section 1590 isfilled with a light-transmitting material to form a light-transmittinglayer 1600 having the same thickness as the frame section.

Here, as the light-transmitting materials for the light-transmittinglayer 1600, the same material as the resin support 520 which is used tosupport the optical fibers in the frame section may be used, but is notlimited thereto, and the light-transmitting layer may be formed by usinga material different from the resin support 520. Reference number 1610refers to the light-transmitting layer 1600 extending over the framesection 1560.

However, in consideration of manufacturing process for the frame-typeoptical member 1500, it is desirable to forming the light-transmittinglayer 1600 by using the same material as the resin support 520supporting the optical fibers.

When the central area of the frame-type optical member is not kept openbut is filled with a particular light-transmitting layer as describedabove, images of the central active areas of the individual displaydevices 200 can be transmitted upward, the central areas of theindividual display devices can be protected from an external impact, andconvenience in mounting the optical member on the multi-panel displaydevice can be provided.

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing theframe-type optical member 500, according to one embodiment. Opticalfibers 510 and resin 1304 are bundled into a block. Then the block isheated to a temperature where plastic deformation may occur in theoptical fibers 510 and the resin 1304.

Then two jigs 1302, 1308 comes into contact with the block and pushesthe block in the opposite direction to mold the block into a shape asshown in FIG. 15B.

After or while pressing the block by the two jigs 1302, 1308, the blockis cooled down to solidify the shape of the block and then cut alongline 1310 into the frame-type optical member 500, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B.

In this way, the size WO of the output ends of the optical fibers may bemade larger than the size WI of the input ends of the optical fibers.Moreover, the output surfaces of the light conduits at the right edgesare shifted towards the right side relative to input surfaces of thesubset of the light conduits. When junction lines of the display devicesare placed below the right side of the block 500, the light from activeareas of the display devices are transmitted via the optical fibers overnon-active areas of the display devices.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-panel display deviceincluding a frame-type optical member according to another embodiment.The multi-panel display device of FIG. 16 includes a first viewing angleincreasing plate 2600 disposed on the top portion of a frame section.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B, the frame section 2590constituting the frame-type optical member includes: a bottom portion2560 that covers a portion of the edge of a display area of anindividual display device; an inner inclined surface 2530 that extendsupward from the bottom portion in an inclined angle at a first angle θ1with respect to a display panel section; and a top portion 2550 thatextends from the inner inclined surface 2530 so as to be parallel to thebottom portion 2560, and a viewing angle increasing plate 2600 isadditionally disposed on the top portion 2550.

The viewing angle increasing plate 2600 is a panel member that includesa plurality of linear optical fibers 2610 and support parts 2620 thatare formed of a resin, etc., in order to secure the linear opticalfibers, and performs the function of extending the viewing angle oflight emitted through the top portion 2550 of the frame section 2590.The support parts

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B, among optical fibersincluded in the frame section, linear optical fibers are positioned inthe inner inclined surface 2530 and the top portion 2550. First opticalfibers 2510 indicate optical fibers disposed in the position of theinner inclined surface 2530 and have a uniform cross-section between aninput end and an output end. Second optical fibers 2510′ indicateoptical fibers with diameter increasing as they extend upwards and aredisposed in the position of the top portion 2550. Each of the secondoptical fibers 2510′ has an output end that is larger than its inputend.

Namely, the first optical fibers 2510 that extend between the bottomportion 2560 and the inner inclined surface 2530 of the frame section2590 have a constant diameter, as denoted by F4 to F8 in FIG. 16A. Thefirst optical fibers F4 to F8 perform a function of transmitting andoutputting light from pixels P4 to P8 in an active area 412 of theindividual display panel to the top without expansion of the light.

In contrast, the second optical fibers 2510′ that extend between thebottom portion 2560 and the top portion 2550 of the frame section 2590have a gradually increasing diameter from an input end to an output endthereof, as denoted by F0 to F3 in FIGS. 16A and 16B. The second opticalfibers F0 to F3 perform the function of expanding light from pixels P0to P3, which are included in the outermost edge of the active area 412of the individual display panel. The second optical fibers F0 to F3transmit and output the expanded light to the upper side.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B, the inner inclinedsurface region of the frame section in which the first optical fibers F4to F8 are disposed may be represented as a non-expansion portion, andthe top portion of the frame section in which the second optical fibersF0 to F3 are disposed may be represented as an expansion portion.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams illustrating the light transmissionproperties of the first and second optical fibers among the opticalfibers used in this embodiment, where the first optical fibers have aconstant diameter, and the second optical fibers have a graduallyincreasing diameter.

FIGS. 17A and 17B describe the function of the viewing angle increasingplate 2600 illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B. As illustrated in FIG. 17,in the case of the first optical fibers 2510, which have a constantdiameter, the output viewing angle β_(o) of light emitted from theoutput end thereof is greater than or equal to the input viewing angleβ_(i) of light incident on the input end thereof due to the totalreflection property within the optical fibers. Namely, the first opticalfibers 2510 can transmit light with a viewing angle equal to or at leastgreater than those of the pixels of the individual display device.

In contrast, in the case of the second optical fibers 2510′ that have agradually increasing diameter toward the output end at their top, theoutput viewing angle β_(o′), of light emitted from the output end issmaller than the input viewing angle β_(i′) of light incident on theirinput ends. That is, the second optical fibers 2510′ transmit light witha viewing angle that is narrower than those of the pixels P0 to P3.

Accordingly, light emitted upward from the top portion 2550 of the framesection has a smaller viewing angle than light emitted from theremaining portion of the frame section when viewed in units of pixels sothat the visibility of an image may be reduced when viewed from theside.

Therefore, an optical member for increasing the viewing angle is placedon the top portion 2550 of the frame section that corresponds to theexpansion portion of the frame-type optical member. To this end, theviewing angle increasing plate 2600, which is a panel member includingthe plurality of linear optical fibers 2610 and the support parts 2620for securing the linear optical fibers 2610, is disposed on the topportion 2550 of the frame section.

In this case, the materials and manufacturing methods for the linearoptical fibers 2610 and the support parts 2620, which are included inthe viewing angle increasing plate 2600, may be the same as those of theframe section 2590 of the aforementioned frame-type optical member, andtherefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted in order toavoid repetition. Furthermore, the support parts included in the viewingangle increasing plate 2600 may be formed of, but are not limited to, amaterial, such as a resin and any material capable of supporting andsecuring the plurality of linear optical fibers 2610 for extending theviewing angle may be used as the material of the support parts.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating an increased viewing angleeffect of the viewing angle increasing plate used in the embodiment ofFIGS. 16A and 16B.

As illustrated in FIG. 18A, the output viewing angle β_(o′) of theoutput end of the second optical fiber 2510′ disposed in the expansionportion is smaller than the input viewing angle β_(i′), which is theviewing angle of a pixel, but the final output viewing angle mayincrease to β_(o″) by virtue of the linear optical fiber 2610 of theviewing angle increasing plate 2600.

Namely, after the light emitted from the second optical fiber 2510′ isincident on the linear optical fiber 2610 of the viewing angleincreasing plate at an input viewing angle of β_(i″), the light makestotal reflection within the linear optical fiber 2610 and then departsfrom the viewing angle increasing plate 2600, as described above withreference to FIG. 16A. As a result, the output viewing angle increasesto β_(o″). From a user's perspective, the final viewing angle of thelight β_(o″), which closely approaches the viewing angle of thecorresponding pixel. Therefore, the aforementioned viewing anglereduction due to the second optical fiber for expansion can be mitigatedto a certain extent.

Meanwhile, it is desirable that the diameter D2 of the linear opticalfibers 2610 included in the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 is notequal to that of the first or second optical fibers included in theframe section of the frame-type optical member, as illustrated in FIG.18B.

More specifically, the diameter D2 of the linear optical fibers 2610included in the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 may be preferablyless than 50% or more than 200%, of the diameter D1 (or WI) of the inputends of the first or second optical fibers.

A so-called Moire phenomenon that causes stripes to be visible onaccount of an interference between two adjoining optical fibers becomesmore prominent as the diameter D2 of the linear optical fibers 2610approximates the diameter D1 (or WI) of the input ends of the first orsecond optical fibers included in the frame section.

Meanwhile, when the diameter D2 of the linear optical fibers 2610 thatare included in the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 is less than 50%of the diameter D1 (or WI) of the input ends of the first or secondoptical fibers included in the frame section, the aforementioned Moirephenomenon may become less prominent and the increased viewing angleeffect of the linear optical fibers 2610 may be increased. But the lighttransmittance of the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 may slightlydecrease.

Furthermore, when the diameter D2 of the linear optical fibers 2610 thatare included in the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 is more than200% of the diameter D1 (or WI) of the input ends of the first or secondoptical fibers included in the frame section, the aforementioned Moirephenomenon may become less prominent and the viewing angle increasingplate may have an excellent light transmittance. But the viewing angleincrease effect of the linear optical fibers 2610 may be restricted to acertain extent.

Accordingly, the linear optical fibers 2610 that are included in theviewing angle increasing plate 2600 may be configured to have a diameterD2 that is less than 50% or more than 200% of the diameter D1 (or WI) ofthe input ends of the first or second optical fibers included in theframe section, thereby compensating for the viewing angle reduction ofthe second optical fibers while reducing the Moire phenomenon.

In particular, it is possible to increase light transmittance andenlarge the viewing angle by selecting diameter D2 to have a diameter ofless than 50% of the diameter D1 or a diameter of more than 200% of thediameter D1.

Furthermore, the viewing angle increasing plate 2600, according to thisembodiment, may preferably have a thickness t of about 0.1 mm to about 3mm. In this case, the thickness t of the viewing angle increasing plate2600 may be determined according to the diameter D of the linear opticalfibers since the increased viewing angle effect may vary depending onthe diameter D of the linear optical fibers included in the viewingangle increasing plate 2600. However, when the viewing angle increasingplate 2600 has a thickness t of 0.1 mm or less despite the diameter D2of the linear optical fibers included therein, the increased viewingangle effect is insufficient, and manufacturing of the viewing angleincreasing plate becomes difficult. And, in cases where the viewingangle increasing plate 2600 has a thickness t of 3 mm or more, thethickness of the entire optical member (that is, the sum of thethickness d of the frame section and the thickness t of the viewingangle increasing plate as in FIG. 18A) increases.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the viewing angle increasing plate 2600is configured to have a thickness t of about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm,thereby reducing the thickness of the whole member while and ensuringthe increase of viewing angle and facilitate the manufacturability ofthe viewing angle increasing plate.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a frame-type optical member with arefraction compensating member disposed on the inner inclined surface ofa frame section, according to one embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG.19, the refraction compensating member 2700 has a high refractive index,and is formed of a light-transmitting material. The refractioncompensating member 2700 is additionally disposed on the inner inclinedsurface 2530 constituting the frame section 2590 of the frame-typeoptical member.

The refraction compensating member 2700 is a light-transmitting opticalmember formed of a material that has a refractive index (for example,±0.3) similar to the material constituting the frame section 2590 of theframe-type optical member; namely, the material constituting opticalfibers 2510 and 2510′ and support parts that are included in the framesection.

More specifically, the refraction compensating member 2700 is formed ofa light-transmitting material having a refractive index of about 1.4 ormore, and is preferably formed of a glass material having a refractiveindex of about 1.6 or more. For example, the refraction compensatingmember 2700 may be formed of Poly-Methyl MethaCrylate (PMMA), PolyCarbonate (PC), Poly Ether Sulfone (PES), Methacrylate Styrene (MS),PolyPropylene (PP), PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET), acryl, silica,glass, etc. that have a light-transmitting property.

The refraction compensating member 2700 includes the bottom 2710 and thetop 2720. The bottom 2710 makes contact with the inner inclined surface2530 of the frame section, and the top 2720 is exposed to the outside ofthe optical member.

Furthermore, the refraction compensating member 2700 is disposed tocover the central area 1580 in the frame section as illustrated in FIGS.14A and 14B, in addition to covering the inner inclined surface 2530 ofthe frame section.

The refraction compensating member 2700 performs a function ofcompensating for an optical-path alignment offset that occurs on theoutput ends of the first optical fibers 2510 disposed in the position ofthe inner inclined surface of the frame section of the frame-typeoptical member, according to this embodiment, and a more detaileddescription thereof will be given below with reference to FIG. 20.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating a light-refractioncompensation effect by virtue of the refraction compensating member,according to one embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 20A, the firstoptical fiber 2510 disposed in the position of the inner inclinedsurface of the frame section has a constant diameter, but is formed suchthat the output end of the first optical fiber is inclined at a firstacute angle θ1 with respect to the surface of an individual displaydevice due to the first acute angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface.

Accordingly, the direction of light Ro emitted from the output end ofthe first optical fiber 2510 is not the same as the direction of lightRi incident on the input end of the first optical fiber. Such aphenomenon is referred to herein as an optical-path alignment offset ofthe first optical fiber.

Namely, as illustrated in FIG. 20A, the light Ro emitted from the firstoptical fiber is inclined at the first angle θ1 with respect to theincident light Ri so that light from a pixel that is disposed below thefirst optical fiber is emitted while being misaligned by theoptical-path alignment offset instead of being directed in theperpendicular direction to the surfaces of the individual displaydevices 410.

Due to the difference in the direction of the light emitted from theinner inclined surface of the frame section and the light emitted fromthe remaining portion (i.e., the central area in the frame section andthe top of the frame section), discontinuity of an image or distortionin the image occurs when viewed by an observer.

The refraction compensating member 2700 according to this embodiment isused to compensate for the optical-path alignment offset phenomenon to acertain extent. As illustrated in FIG. 20B, since the refractioncompensating member 2700 is an optical member (formed of glass, etc.)disposed on the inner inclined surface of the frame section of apredetermined thickness with a refractive index of 1.4 or more which islower or higher than the refractive index of the optical fibers 2510,light R2 emitted from the first optical fiber 2510 is first refracted bythe bottom 2710 of the refraction compensating member as shown in FIG.20B. The light R2 that entered through the refraction compensationmember 2720 passes through the refraction compensation member 2720 andis then again refracted at the top 2720 of the refraction compensatingmember so that the light R3 emitted from the top of the refractioncompensating member proceeds in a direction similar to that of the firstincident light R1. Accordingly, the optical-path alignment offsetillustrated in FIG. 20A may be reduced to a certain extent.

In particular, the top 2720 of the refraction compensating member 2700,according to this embodiment, is inclined at a second tilt angle θw withrespect to the horizontal plane so that the compensation performance forthe optical-path alignment offset increases by virtue of the secondaryrefraction as the second tilt angle θw decreases. For reference, thefirst tilt angle, at which the bottom of the refraction compensatingmember 2700 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, is thesame as the first angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface 2530 of theframe section.

Namely, the compensation performance for the optical-path alignmentoffset increases as the difference in the tilt angle relative to thehorizontal plane between the top and the bottom of the refractioncompensating member 2700 increases, but the total thickness of therefraction compensating member may also increase as the second tiltangle θw of the top 2720 of the refraction compensating member 2700decreases.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is possible to design the degree ofcompensation for the optical-path alignment offset by properly adjustingthe second tilt angle θw in the range of 0 degree to the first angle θ1of the inner inclined surface of the frame section, and a more detaileddescription is provided below with reference to FIGS. 21A through 21C.

FIGS. 21A through 21C are sectional diagrams illustrating various shapesof the refraction compensating member 2700 according to embodiments ofFIG. 19. More specifically, FIGS. 21A through 21C illustrate variousshapes with a different magnitude of the second tilt angle θw that thetop 2720 of the refraction compensating member 2700 makes with thehorizontal plane.

FIG. 21A illustrates a case in which the second tilt angle θw of the topof the refraction compensating member 2700 is 0 degrees; that is, a casein which the top of the refraction compensating member 2700 and thehorizontal plane are in the same plane.

In this case, as described above with reference to FIG. 20B, the amountof secondary refraction increases to increase compensation for anoptical-path alignment offset, and in theory, it is possible to reducethe amount of the optical-path alignment offset due to the innerinclined surface of the frame section by making the direction of theviewing angle of light emitted from the top of the refractioncompensating member 2700 approximately match with that of the viewingangle of the corresponding pixel.

FIG. 21C illustrates a case in which the second tilt angle θw of the topof a refraction compensating member 2700″ is nearly the same as thefirst angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface of the frame section 2590.In this case, the refraction compensating member is formed as an opticalpanel member that has a predetermined thickness and covers the upperside of the central area of an individual display device and the innerinclined surface of the frame section of the frame-type optical member.

In the case of FIG. 21C, the degree of compensation for the optical-pathalignment offset may decrease slightly compared with the case of FIG.21A, but it is possible to reduce the total thickness and weight of therefraction compensating member 2700″.

FIG. 21B illustrates a case in which the second tilt angle θw of the topof a refraction compensating member 2700′ is greater than 0 degrees andis less than the first angle θ1 of the inner inclined surface of theframe section 2590.

Using the embodiment of FIG. 21B, it is possible to improve the degreeof compensation for an optical-path alignment offset and the totalthickness and weight of the frame-type optical member by properlyadjusting the second tilt angle θw of the top of the refractioncompensating member 2700′. Namely, it is possible to set the second tiltangle θw of the top of the refraction compensating member 2700′ inconsideration of the amount of the occurring optical-path alignmentoffset and the desired thickness/weight of the optical member.

FIG. 22A illustrates a frame-type optical member according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention. The frame-type opticalmember, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22, has astructure in which a second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′ isdisposed on the inner inclined surface 2530 of the frame sectionthereof, in addition to the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 disposedon the top portion 2550 of the frame section thereof. A refractioncompensating member 2700 is disposed on the second viewing angleincreasing plate.

Since the inner inclined surface 2530 of the frame section of theframe-type optical member is inclined at the first angle θ1 with respectto the horizontal plane as described above, the output ends of firstoptical fibers 2510 formed along the inner inclined surface 2530 arealso inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontalplane.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 22B, the viewing angle β2 of lightemitted from the output ends of the first optical fibers 2510 may besmaller than the viewing angle β1 of light incident on the input ends ofthe first optical fibers due to the inclination of the output ends ofthe first optical fibers.

Accordingly, the function of increasing a viewing angle may also berequired for the first optical fibers that are disposed in the positionof the inner inclined surface 2530 of the frame section. To this end, inthe embodiment of FIG. 22A, the second viewing angle increasing plate2600′ is additionally disposed on the inner inclined surface 2530 of theframe section.

In this case, the second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′ differsfrom the viewing angle increasing plate 2600 illustrated in FIGS. 16A to18C only in the position thereof, and may be the same as the viewingangle increasing plate 2600 in the detailed configuration, such as thematerial, the shape, etc.

Namely, the second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′ is a panelmember that is constituted by a plurality of linear optical fibers andsupport parts for coupling the linear optical fibers.

Furthermore, the linear optical fibers included in the second viewingangle increasing plate 2600′ may be configured to have a diameter lessthan 50%, or more than 200%, of the diameter D1 (or WI) of the firstoptical fibers included in the frame section, thereby compensating forthe viewing angle reduction of the first optical fibers, which is theunique function of the viewing angle increasing plate, and minimizingthe Moire phenomenon.

In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 22A, the refraction compensatingmember 2700 is additionally disposed on the second viewing angleincreasing plate 2600′ to compensate for the optical-path alignmentoffset caused by the inner inclined surface. Since the refractioncompensating member has the same configuration as the refractioncompensating member described above with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, adetailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this case, the refraction compensating member 2700 that is disposedon the second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′ may be preferablyformed of a material that has a similar refractive index (for example,±0.3) to the material that constitutes the frame section or the secondviewing angle increasing plate 2600′.

As illustrated in FIG. 22C, when the first light R1, having passedthrough the first optical fiber 2510, passes through the linear opticalfiber of the second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′, the viewingangle thereof increases (R2), and the light is refracted while passingthrough the top of the refraction compensating member 2700 so that theoptical-path alignment offset due to the first angle θ1 of the innerinclined surface is compensated for and the final light R3 is emitted.

Of course, in the embodiment of FIG. 22A, the first viewing angleincreasing plate 2600 may be disposed on the top portion 2550 of theframe section to compensate for the viewing angle reduction due to anincrease in the diameter of the second optical fibers 2510′ that aredisposed in the expansion portion.

As described above, according to the embodiment of FIG. 22A, the secondviewing angle increasing plate 2600′ and the first viewing angleincreasing plate 2600 are disposed on the inner inclined surface 2530and the top portion 2550 of the frame section, respectively, tocompensate for the viewing angle reduction due to the inner inclinedsurface and the increase in the diameter of the second optical fibers,and the refraction compensating member 2700 is disposed on the secondviewing angle increasing plate 2600′ to compensate for the optical-pathalignment offset caused by the inner inclined surface.

FIG. 23 illustrates a frame-type optical member according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 23, theframe-type optical member has a configuration in which the frame section2590 thereof is only constituted by the inner inclined surface 2530without a top portion, and a second viewing angle increasing plate 2600′and a refraction compensating member 2700 are sequentially disposed onthe inner inclined surface.

In the embodiment of FIG. 23, first optical fibers having a constantdiameter and second optical fibers having a gradually increasingdiameter are all disposed between the inner inclined surface 2530 andthe bottom portion 2560, in which case the second optical fibers aredisposed on the outside of the first optical fibers.

As described above, in the multi-panel display device in which pluralindividual display devices are joined, it is possible to guarantee imagecontinuity in the panel junction areas by disposing the frame-typeoptical member including optical fibers, which receive light from pixelsand output the light to areas covering the junction areas of theindividual display devices, in front of the multi-panel display device.Particularly, by optimizing the structure of the inner inclined surfaceof the frame section of the frame-type optical member and the structureof the optical fibers included in the frame section, it is possible toprovide an image which is continuous and natural in the panel junctionareas of the multi-panel display device.

In addition, it is possible to compensate for a viewing angle reductionthat is caused by a difference in the size between the input ends andthe output ends of optical fibers by disposing a viewing angleincreasing plate on the inner inclined surface or the top portion of theframe section of a frame-type optical member. It is also possible tocompensate for an optical-path alignment offset caused by the innerinclined surface of the frame section by disposing a refractioncompensating member, which is formed of a material (such as glass, etc.)on the inner inclined surface of the frame section.

The above description and the accompanying drawings exemplify thetechnical idea of the present invention, and various modifications andchanges such as combination, separation, substitution, and alteration ofconfigurations can be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the essential features of the invention. Accordingly, theembodiments disclosed in the invention are not to restrict the technicalidea of the invention but to explain the technical idea of theinvention. The technical idea of the invention is not limited to theembodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the appendedclaims, and all the technical ideas within a range equivalent theretoshould be construed as belonging to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-panel display device, comprising: aplurality of adjoining individual display devices; and an optical memberon the plurality of individual display devices, the optical membercomprising: a frame section covering junction areas of the individualdisplay devices where images are not displayed and portions of displayareas of the individual display devices adjacent to the junction areas,the frame section comprising a plurality of light conduits, at least oneportion of the frame section comprising: a bottom surface facing adisplay area of an individual display device, and an inner inclinedsurface extending from the bottom surface and facing away from theindividual display device; and a refraction compensating member on theinner inclined surface, light received from the inclined surfacerefracted by the refraction compensation member in a directionperpendicular to surfaces of the individual display devices, wherein therefraction compensating member comprises a first surface facing theinner inclined surface, and a second surface facing away from the innerinclined surface, the first surface forming an acute angle relative tothe second surface, and the second surface forming another acute anglerelative to the surface of the individual display devices.
 2. Themulti-panel display device of claim 1, wherein each of the lightconduits comprises: a first surface configured to receive light from thecovered portions of the display areas; and a second surface facing awayfrom the individual display device.
 3. The multi-panel display device ofclaim 2, wherein a center of the second surface of a light conduit isshifted towards a junction area relative to a center of the firstsurface of the light conduit, the junction area adjacent to a portion ofthe frame section that includes each of the light conduits.
 4. Themulti-panel display device of claim 1, wherein the frame section furthercomprises: an outer inclined surface extending from the bottom surface,the outer inclined surface extending over a non-display area of thedisplay device and facing a junction area between the individual displaydevice and an adjacent individual display device, wherein a first acuteangle between the inner inclined surface and the bottom surface issmaller than a second acute angle between the outer inclined surface andthe bottom surface.
 5. The multi-panel display device of claim 1,further comprising a viewing angle increasing plate between therefraction compensating member and the inner inclined surface, theviewing angle increasing plate configured to receive first light with afirst viewing angle from the light conduits forming the inner inclinedsurface and transmit second light of a second viewing angle larger thanthe first viewing angle from a second side facing away from the innerinclined surface.
 6. The multi-panel display device of claim 2, whereina first surface of a light conduit is equal to or smaller than a pixelor a sub-pixel of the individual display devices, and the second surfaceis larger than the first surface of the light conduit.
 7. Themulti-panel display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one portionof the frame section further comprises: a top surface extending over atleast a non-display area of the individual display device and facingaway from the individual display device, the inner inclined surfacebetween the top surface and the bottom surface.
 8. The multi-paneldisplay device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light conducts havea first refractive index, and wherein the frame section furthercomprises: cladding portions of a second refractive index lower than thefirst refractive index, the cladding portions surrounding the pluralityof light conduits, wherein each of the light conduits and the claddingportions are surrounded by supporting material having a third refractiveindex lower than the first refractive index and the second refractiveindex.
 9. The multi-panel display device of claim 1, wherein the opticalmember further comprises a light-transmitting layer between the framesection and another frame section.
 10. An optical member for multi-paneldisplay device, comprising: a first frame section covering junctionareas of first and second individual display devices where images arenot displayed and portions of display areas of the first and secondindividual display devices adjacent to the junction areas, the firstframe section comprising a plurality of light conduits, at least oneportion of the first frame section comprising: a bottom surface facing adisplay area of the first individual display device, and an innerinclined surface extending from the bottom surface and facing away fromthe first individual display device; and a refraction compensatingmember on the inner inclined surface, light received from the inclinedsurface refracted by the refraction compensation member in a directionperpendicular to surfaces of the individual display devices, wherein therefraction compensating member comprises a first surface facing theinner inclined surface, and a second surface facing away from the innerinclined surface, the first surface forming an acute angle relative tothe second surface, and the second surface forming another acute anglerelative to the surface of the individual display devices.
 11. Theoptical member of claim 10, further comprising: a second frame sectionconnected to the first frame section, the second frame section coveringjunction areas of the first individual display device and a thirdindividual display device adjacent to the first individual displaydevice.
 12. The optical member of claim 10, wherein each of the lightconduits comprises: a first surface configured to receive light from thecovered display areas; and a second surface facing away from theindividual display device.
 13. The optical member of claim 12, wherein acenter of the second surface of a light conduit is shifted towards ajunction area relative to a center of the first surface of a lightconduit, the junction area adjacent to a portion of the frame sectionthat includes each of the light conduits.
 14. The optical member ofclaim 10, wherein the frame section further comprises: an outer inclinedsurface extending from the bottom surface, the outer inclined surfaceextending over a non-display area of the display device and facing ajunction area between the individual display device and an adjacentindividual display device, wherein a first acute angle between the innerinclined surface and the bottom surface is smaller than a second acuteangle between the outer inclined surface and the bottom surface.
 15. Amulti-panel display device, comprising: a plurality of adjoiningindividual display devices; and an optical member on the plurality ofindividual display device, the optical member comprising: a framesection covering junction areas of the individual display devices whereimages are not displayed and portions of display areas of the individualdisplay devices adjacent to the junction areas, the frame sectioncomprising a plurality of light conduits of a first refractive index andcladding portions of a second refractive index lower than the firstrefractive index, the cladding portions surrounding the plurality oflight conduits, at least one portion of the frame section comprising: abottom surface facing a display area of an individual display device, aninner inclined surface extending from the bottom surface and facing awayfrom the individual display device, an outer inclined surface extendingfrom the bottom surface, the outer inclined surface extending over anon-display area of the display device and facing a junction areabetween the individual display device and an adjacent individual displaydevice, and a top surface facing away from the display area of theindividual display device, the top surface extending from an edge of theinner inclined surface to an edge of the outer inclined surface, the topsurface parallel to the bottom surface; and a refraction compensatingmember on the inner inclined surface, light received from the inclinedsurface refracted by the refraction compensation member in a directionperpendicular to surfaces of the individual display devices, wherein therefraction compensating member comprises a first surface facing theinner inclined surface, and a second surface facing away from the innerinclined surface, the first surface forming an acute angle relative tothe second surface, and the second surface forming another acute anglerelative to the surface of the individual display devices.
 16. Theoptical member of claim 15, further comprising a viewing angleincreasing plate between the refraction compensating member and theinner inclined surface, the viewing angle increasing plate configured toreceive first light with a first viewing angle from the light conduitsforming the inner inclined surface and transmit second light of a secondviewing angle larger than the first viewing angle from a second sidefacing away from the inner inclined surface.
 17. The optical member ofclaim 10, wherein the at least one portion of the first frame sectionfurther comprises: a top surface extending over at least a non-displayarea of the first individual display device and facing away from thefirst individual display device, the inner inclined surface between thetop surface and the bottom surface.
 18. The optical member of claim 10,wherein the plurality of light conducts have a first refractive index,and wherein the frame section further comprises: cladding portions of asecond refractive index lower than the first refractive index, thecladding portions surrounding the plurality of light conduits, whereineach of the light conduits and the cladding portions are surrounded bysupporting material having a third refractive index lower than the firstrefractive index and the second refractive index.
 19. The optical memberof claim 1, wherein each of the individual devices include a pluralitypixels, and wherein each light conduit of the plurality of lightconduits corresponds to one pixel of the plurality of pixels.
 20. Theoptical member of claim 10, wherein each of the first and secondindividual devices include a plurality pixels, and wherein each lightconduit of the plurality of light conduits corresponds to one pixel ofthe plurality of pixels.